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| Rail link to Ladakh may end region's isolation | | | | Now that Banihal-Qazigund railway lines has been inaugurated and the rail link between Udhampur and Banihal, which will complete the process of linking the Kashmir valley with rest of the country, is likely to be completed within next three years, demand for connecting Ladakh with various towns and cities of India through rail tracks has surfaced. Not only this people in Ladakh and traders besides foreign tourists too have demanded rail services in the border areas of Ladakh which could help the Army while moving from one corner of the region to the other. In addition, some more strategic projects are in the pipeline. These include a major 500 km-long Srinagar-Kargil-Leh line. The Railway Budget of 2013-14 includes a survey for this project. This would again be a great engineering feat over the Zanskar mountains and a part of the Great Himalayan Range.A railway line along the Indus in the Ladakh plains, similar to the Banihal-Baramulla railway in the Valley, would in comparison be a low cost project. The alignment suggested is from Batalik, 40 km north east of Kargil along the northern bank of the Indus, to Loma Bend-Khalatse, to Ladakh's capital, Leh, which is also a military base, to Karu-Upashi, another military base. From here, it can connect to another proposed line from Manali (the Rs.22,831 crore Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line is understood to be under consideration by the Planning Commission). Here, the line would leave the Indus and move northeast towards Pangong Tso/Chushul. The route, of approximately 500 km, is plain; it needs no tunnelling and the construction of very few bridges. It is a cost-effective proposal and would be of immense help to the people of Ladakh, in the same way the Banihal to Baramulla link is to the people of the Valley. Since Ladakh remains cut off the thee Kashmir valley or one can say from rest of the country for six months construction of railway lines across Ladakh and between Srinagar and Leh and between Manali and Leh could prove helpful to traders, foreign tourists and others needed for developing the economy of the poor region. Across the Line of Actual Control China has developed modern rail and road transport facilities in its border areas which have helped Beijing to move troops and machines to the border speedily and without facing any difficulties.It is time for India to emulate China as far as development of road and rail transport services in the border areas, that too in the remote Ladakh region, are concerned. Apart from its security related importance rail link between Leh and Srinagar, Kargil and Srinagar, Leh and Manali could end prolonged isolation of people in the region of Ladakh. It could also spare the Government and the Army of their stupendous task of building a buffer stock of foodgrains, edible oil, kerosene oil, diesel, petrol and series of eatables for six months. Once Ladakh is connected with rest of the country through rail services it could ensure better economic development of the region than it has witnessed during the last over 100 years. |
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